By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The House of Representatives member, Mr Alex Ikwechegh, who slapped a ride-hailing driver with Bolt, Mr Stephen Abuwatseya, on Sunday has been apprehended by the police.
This development was confirmed by the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Ms Josephine Adeh, a Superintendent of Police (SP), on Monday.
A video went viral on social media today showing the federal lawmaker from Abia State assaulting the driver, who delivered a package to his residence in Abuja.
Mr Ikwechegh was recorded in the visual by the victim as boasting that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, cannot do him anything because he is a lawmaker.
He claimed the Bolt driver insulted his personality for daring to ask him to meet him in his car to collect the item he ordered from a vendor, threatening that he could make Mr Abuwatseya disappear from Nigeria and nothing would happen.
“I can make you disappear in the whole of Nigeria and nothing will happen. Do you know who I am?
“I can lock you up in my generator House and nothing will happen,” he threatened in the video, which sparked reactions from different quarters, including his political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which vowed to discipline him.
“As a political party founded on respect for Human Rights, we roundly condemn the action of our said member and Federal Parliamentarian, Alex Ikwechegh, representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, on the platform of our great Party.
“As a party, we are founded on the basic principles of upholding the dignity of all humans, irrespective of class, creed and/or ethnicity.
“The recent video allegedly showing Ikwechegh assaulting a cab driver is totally unacceptable and runs counter to what our Party – APGA – represents.
“In line with APGA’s constitution, the Leadership of the Party shall set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the act, and if found wanting, appropriate sanctions shall be meted on him in line with the Constitution of APGA.
“Our party shall not tolerate any verifiable conduct that is not in tandem with the ideals of our founding fathers. In APGA, we are our Brother’s and Sister’s keeper and it cannot be any other way,” the party said.
In the statement released by the police, it was stated that, “Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Hon. Ikwegh when a dispute arose concerning the method of delivery. During this altercation, Mr Abuwatseya was reportedly physically assaulted.
“The FCT Police Command expresses grave concern over Ikwegh’s dismissive attitude toward the office of the Inspector General of Police following the incident.
“After allegedly slapping the victim, he reportedly remarked with contempt, You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police, demonstrating a troubling disregard for the authority of law enforcement.
“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning.”
Adedapo Adesanya